The Drama & Mental Game Behind the Ashes Opening Delivery

The opening ball in an Ashes contest represents much more than just a single pitch.

It signifies an heart-pounding three or four seconds filled with pure excitement, when all of pre-contest hype finally ceases.

"To set that tone throughout the entire contest would be really cool," remarked English bowler Gus Atkinson when questioned regarding this possibility this week.

"I'm aware history shows numerous memorable first-ball instances during Ashes cricket history. The possibility to contribute that tradition would be incredible."

As the bowler notes, that opening delivery has delivered many of the truly iconic cricket occasions - ones that appeared to set the narrative or at least became convenient to reference afterwards...

The Captain Driving Past the Covers

Zak Crawley dedicated his build-up to 2023's Ashes contemplating driving the opening delivery for four runs - about wanting to "create an impact."

Australia captain Pat Cummins charged in at Edgbaston and Crawley cracked a shot past the covers to deafening cheers by the England supporters.

"I've long remained a big fan of the first ball of the Ashes," Crawley shared.

"I was watching them since youth and I knew several weeks before that if we won the toss it meant an excellent chance of facing that ball."

"I discussed to Harry Brook regarding this when we were playing golf on course - saying it could be special if I could get the first one away to deliver a statement."

England may not have won that series - while the Australians thrillingly won that first match on last day - but it was a preview at the way Stokes' side would attack during the series.

Burns and England Dismissed Early

That instance in Birmingham remains among rare opening deliveries to go in favor of the English, however.

Much more often they've served as ominous indicators regarding the Australian dominance that was following.

During 2021's series, Mitchell Starc dismissed English opener Rory Burns via a leg-stump full delivery at the Gabba to become the first pitcher to take a dismissal on the opening delivery of a series since Aussie seamer Ernest McCormick during the 1930s.

England's preparation was lacking and at that moment of Aussie jubilation England received a blow to their morale.

"My emotion simply plummeted dramatically," recalled paceman Stuart Broad, watching watching from the dressing room.

"You have prepared for this series and bang, opening delivery, he is dismissed."

The Ashes were gone within eleven more days and the Australians claimed the series 4-0.

Slater's Statement Shot

It's also unsurprising a captain who thrived on "psychological warfare" thought events were set by a similar incident 27 prior.

Steve Waugh and the Australians aimed for their fourth Ashes series win consecutively when opener Michael Slater began 1994's contest with emphatically hitting English bowler Phil DeFreitas for four past the offside.

"It felt like 'okay boys here we go again we have got them now'," recalled Waugh, who'd feature all five Tests during a 3-1 home win.

"Psychologically it felt like we're dominant now and we should continue attacking. We know how we beat this team."

Foreboding.

Harmison's Horror Delivery

But what if the first ball is just that - a single among ten thousand or so to start the contest?

The errant delivery Steve Harmison bowled to start 2006's series - where he hurled the ball into the grasp of skipper Andrew Flintoff in second slip, almost missing the pitch in the process - became the most famous Ashes series first ball in history.

"I froze," Harmison explained journalists shortly after.

"I allowed the enormity of the occasion get to me. Everything felt so alien to me. My entire being was nervous."

"I could not stop my hands to stop being sweaty. That initial delivery slipped out of my grasp, the second also slipped, then, following that, I possessed no consistency, nothing."

The English had won 2005's series 15 before but were resoundingly defeated 5-0. Some contend that Ashes ended in that exact instant.

"We simply weren't skilled enough to defeat